Argyranthemum plant named ‘OHMADCAMA’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Argyranthemum  plant named ‘OHMADCAMA’ characterized by its double inflorescence form with white-colored ray florets, cream-colored disc florets, dark green-colored foliage, freely branching character, and compact and upright growth habit.

Latin name of the genus and species of plant claimed:Argyranthemum×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘OHMADCAMA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofArgyranthemum plant botanically known as Argyranthemum×hybrida, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘OHMADCAMA’.

The new Argyranthemum originated in a controlled breeding program inWinmalee, New South Wales, Australia during February 2002. The objectiveof the breeding program was the development of Argyranthemum cultivarsthat are freely branching, have a compact upright growth habit, arefreely flowering, and have unique flower coloration.

The female parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary breeding line01-167, not patented, which exhibits semi-double pink-colored rayflorets. The male parent of the new cultivar was proprietary breedingline 01-19, not patented, which exhibits single flower form and verycompact growth habit. Seed from the above stated cross was germinatedand grown to maturity. One plant within the progeny was discovered andselected by the inventor on Sep. 24, 2002 in a controlled environment atWinmalee, New South Wales, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar, by terminal stem cuttings,since September 2002 at Winmalee, New South Wales, Australia and WestChicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true totype with all the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed andretained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘OHMADCAMA’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant:

-   -   1. Double inflorescence form with white-colored ray florets and        cream-colored disc florets.    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage.    -   3. Freely branching character.    -   4. Compact and upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in flower color and from the male parent primarily in flowerform and growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar are similar to plants of the cultivarSupagem, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,826. However, in side-by-sidecomparisons, carried out at West Chicago, Ill., plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of ‘Supagem’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have larger inflorescences than        plants of ‘Supagem’.    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller leaves than plants of        ‘Supagem’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalinflorescence and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors inthe photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describe the colors of the newcultivar. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 13 weeks in agreenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a view from above, of the overall growth andflowering habit of ‘OHMADCAMA’ with one plant per pot.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘OHMADCAMA’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where color terms of ordinary significance areused. The color values were determined on Aug. 27, 2004 between 1:00 and3:00 p.m. under natural light conditions.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings taken from stock plants and grown at West Chicago, Ill. ina double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable tothose used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in 10 cm potsfor 13 weeks while utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhousetemperatures were maintained at approximately 65°-78° F. (18°-25° C.)during the day and approximately 50°-60° F. (10°-15° C.) during thenight. Greenhouse light levels were maintained at 6,000 to 9,000footcandles during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Argyranthemum×hybrida cultivar OHMADCAMA.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary breeding line 01-167.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary breeding line 01-19.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 9 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 6 to 9 weeks from a rooted cutting            in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit.—Compact. Freely branching. One or two pinches            improve basal branching.        -   Form.—Upright, mounded.        -   Size.—Height: Approximately 21 cm from soil level to top of            plant plane. Width (area of spread) — Approximately 28.9 cm.        -   Branch.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 9. Strength:            Strong. Length from soil level to base of peduncle:            Approximately 13.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.2 mm.            Texture: Glabrous. Color: Young and supple: 146C. Mature and            woody: 199B. Internode length at middle of branch:            Approximately 5.4 mm.        -   Foliage.—Quantity of leaves per branch: Approximately 19.            Type: Simple. Fragrance: Slight, spicey. Arrangement:            Alternate. Aspect: At an acute angle to the stem. Shape:            Obovate. Margin: Parted. Apex: Acute, cuspidate. Base:            Attenuate, decurrent. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length:            Approximately 4.5 cm. Width: Approximately 2.5 cm. Texture:            Upper and lower surfaces are glabrous. Color of mature            foliage: Upper surface: 146A with venation of 143C,            glaucous. Lower surface: 146B with venation of 143C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 8 weeks from planting of            rooted cutting.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering under outdoor growing            conditions with substantially continuous blooming from            spring through autumn and year round in greenhouse            environment.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Solitary, composite. Persistent. Shape: Flat,            round, Aspect: Facing upward or outward. Disc and ray            florets develop acropetally on a capitulum. Fragrance: None.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately            4.        -   Size.—Diameter: Approximately 4.4 cm. Depth Approximately            1.1 cm.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Approximately 7-10 days.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 5-6 days for buds to            progress from first color to fully open inflorescences.            Shape: Oval. Diameter: Approximately 4.8 mm. Color: 155C.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 102,            arranged in several whorls. Aspect: Slightly convex.            Arrangement: Imbricate. Shape: Linear. Margin: Entire. Apex:            Emarginate with three tips. Base: Attenuate. Length:            Approximately 1.7 cm. Width: Approximately 4 mm. Texture:            Glabrous and ribbed. Color of young and mature ray florets:            Upper and lower surfaces: N155D.        -   Disc.—Diameter: Approximately 6 mm. Depth: Approximately 4            mm.        -   Receptacle.—Shape: Cone. Diameter at base: Approximately            4 mm. Depth: Approximately 3 mm. Color: 145A.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 194.            Shape: Tubular with five lobes each having an acute apex.            Length: Approximately 5 mm. Diameter at apex: Approximately            1 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 0.7 mm. Texture:            Glabrous. Color: Immature: 155D. Color: Mature: 155D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 24.            Arrangement: Imbricate, in several rows. Shape: Lanceolate.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length:            Approximately 4 mm. Width: Approximately 2 mm. Texture:            Glabrous, papery along edges. Color of upper surface:            Closest to 143C. Color of lower surface: Closest to 143D.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, pliable. Aspect: Erect. Length:            Approximately 7.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.2 mm.            Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Stamens: 4. Anther length: 0.2 mm. Gynoecium: Present            on ray and disc florets. There is one pistil per floret.            Pistil length: 4 mm. Stigma shape: Two parted. Stigma            length: 1 mm. Style length: 2 mm. Style color: 144C. Ovary            diameter: 2 mm. Ovary color: 144C.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Argyranthemum has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant named ‘OHMADCAMA’,substantially as herein shown and described.